BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Oct. 12, 2004

  Source: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm

Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm 5, 6

Evening Psalm(s) PM Psalm 10, 11

Old Testament: Jonah 1:1-17a

Epistle: Acts 26:24-27:8

Gospel Luke 8:40-56

In the first of three lessons from the Book of Jonah, we review the story up to the point where he is thrown overboard while heading in the wrong direction (Jonah 1:16). The story "features a recalcitrant prophet who flees from his mission and sulks when his hearers repent" ®. Lansing Hicks, NOAB). This may be a "caricature of the biblical prophet" (James S. Ackerman, Harper-Collins Study Bible), but there are serious lessons. God is concerned about the Gentiles (other nations) as well as the Jews. The Ninevites' repentance may well be an example for the Jews, but some might question that. "The superpower that destroyed Samaria?" In any case, even on the run, Jonah proves to be a prophet in spite of himself. The mariners cried "each to his god" at first (Jonah 1:6), but after they threw Jonah overboard "and the sea ceased from its raging" (v. 15), they "feared the LORD even more, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows" (v. 16).

Governor Festus responds to Paul's testimony: "You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!" (Acts. 26:24). King Agrippa's response "could be either an ironic insult or a straightforward comment on Paul's persuasiveness" (Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Harper-Collins Study Bible). The NRSV translation takes it as the former, "Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?" The NRSV footnote reading likely remains ironic, "Quickly you will persuade me to play the Christian," but the Authorized (KJ) Version sounds sincere, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." After a brief response from Paul, the meeting concludes and preparations are made to send Paul to Rome, and the journey continues as far as New Havens, near Lasea (on the Island of Crete) in today's reading.

Luke presents the raising of Jairus' daughter and the healing of the woman suffering from hemorrhages, combined, as the third of three events which demonstrate Jesus' power: the stilling of the storm (Lk. 8:22-25), healing the Gerasene demoniac (vv. 26-39) and this account (vv. 40-56). The woman with hemorrhages, whose condition made her ritually impure, demonstrate persistence and faith in reaching out to touch Jesus. Jesus recognized the difference between the press of the crowds and the woman's urgency, ignored the nay-sayers (the crowds, Peter), and recognized her faith, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace (Lk. 8:48). Jairus also demonstrated faith by ignoring the detractors, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer" (v. 49), but rather listening to Jesus, "Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved" (v. 50).

Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.